18-year-old arrested on sex abuse charges after returning to Mobile

MOBILE, Ala. -- An 18-year-old Indian citizen, having left Mobile in August amid accusations that he repeatedly sexually abused an 8-year-old boy, returned to Mobile on Wednesday and surrendered after living for months in New York.

Llewellyn Ashley Bowen was booked into Mobile County Metro Jail on charges of first-degree sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse.

Bowen, accompanied by his adoptive father, fled to New York after he was questioned by police but before a scheduled polygraph test, police said.

The victim's family, with whom Bowen lived during the time of the alleged abuse, was outraged that Bowen was allowed to leave the state.

The victim's mother, whose name is being withheld to protect her son's identity, has said that Bowen's adoptive father had told her of their plans to leave, information that she passed on to police.

Police have said that they could not forcibly hold Bowen until he was formally charged.

Prosecutors were waiting to take the case to a grand jury so the child would not have to testify in a preliminary hearing, said Nicki Patterson, chief assistant district attorney for Mobile County.

Bowen and his adoptive father were in contact with police during their time in New York, Patterson said.

"The father was also responsible for bringing him back," she said.

Patterson said her office would have to look at the details of Bowen's trip before deciding whether to file additional charges.

The victim's mother and father said they are glad Bowen has been arrested, but "now (our son) is going to have to go testify in District Court," his mother said. "He was just starting to show signs of healing."

The mother also said that dealing with police and prosecutors has caused her to doubt the justice system in Mobile.

Bowen was booked into Metro Jail shortly after noon, but the victim's mother said she was first told of the arrest by the Press-Register on Wednesday evening.

A bail hearing is set for Friday.

"After all that has happened, if they give him bail, I'll cry outrage," she said.